In survey results released in March from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, “the adolescents surveyed stated that their parents focused less on time limits and more on restricted or blocked content and platforms. Parents also regulated the context — time and place — in which their children accessed digital media.
Adolescents generally saw their parents’ rules as reasonable (70%) and beneficial (60%). This may be particularly true when adolescents feel their parents consider their perspectives and have convincing reasons for setting rules.
Teens crave autonomy, so involving them in developing family rules around digital media use is a good way to promote buy-in and lay a foundation for healthier engagement. But, it’s important to be consistent. Like adults, adolescents generally value fairness and transparency in rules. They may be less likely to push back when the rules are consistently enforced and modeled by their parents.”